🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
The Tampa Bay Rays are in quite a tough spot in the American League East.
The New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, and Boston Red Sox are all loaded with talent and have the potential to contend this season. That leaves the Rays as a distant memory in the division, which could quickly turn into the Rays falling out of postseason contention.
If this is the case, the Rays will likely offload some of their expiring contracts in a few blockbuster trades. There are a few expiring deals that could be moved this season.
ESPN's David Schoenfield recently predicted the Rays would look to cut ties with hard-throwing reliever Pete Fairbanks this season. Fairbanks has a club option on his contract for next season.
"Yes, yet another hard-throwing reliever in Fairbanks -- but that's the kind of deadline this is shaping up to be," Schoenfield wrote. "There just isn't a long list of premium starting pitchers and position players who figure to be available."
There were some rumors Fairbanks could have been traded last season at the trade deadline, but he ultimately stayed in Tampa Bay.
This season, that could change.
Fairbanks has been consistently solid over the last few seasons. The righty has continued his dominance into this season, in which he holds a 2.38 ERA in 11 1/3 innings with six saves.
There will be a lot of teams in the market to add a high-leverage arm like Fairbanks at this season's trade deadline.
More MLB: Veteran Pitcher Dubbed 'Most Likely' Royals Trade Candidate If Team Takes Step Back
About the writer
Zach Pressnell is a Newsweek contributor based in Columbus, Ohio. His focus is MLB content. He has an extensive knowledge ... Read more